Cellular carton



April 1950 r c. 'r. COLGREN ETAL 2,933,231

CELLULAR CARTON Filed June 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR/Vff c. T.COLGREN ETAL 2,933,231

April 19, 1960 CELLULAR CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30. 1958327.47. Z7 2/ 7/0 MENTOR.

Cci'r/ T (O/7f? BY RI-CAOIOI 6. H00:

' A TTORNEY.

CELLULAR CARTON Carl T. Colgren and Richard G. Haas, Kalamazoo, Mich.,assignors, by mesne assignments, to KVP Sutherland Paper Company, acorporation of Delaware Application June 30, 1958, Serial No. 745,456

10 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) This invention relates to cellular cartons whichare adapted for the packaging of fragile articles, for example eggs. Themain objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a cellular carton which is very strong and rigid whenerected and efiectively protects the contents.

Second, to provide a cellular carton which will accommodate relativelylarge eggs and at the same time provide effective cushioning therefor.Third, to provide a carton of this type which is relatively rigid and iscapable of withstanding substantial loads, for example, when a pluralityof the cartons are stacked, without distortion or collapsing in anydirection.

Fourth, to provide a carton having these advantages which does notrequire additional stock as compared to certain cartons now in wide use.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carton embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a carton in par tially erectedposition, the transverse partitions not having been erected.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section on a linecorresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the erected carton on a linecorresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on a line corresponding toline 55 of Fig. 6, eggs being conventionally shown.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in horizontal section on a linecorresponding to line 6-6 of Fig. 5 with eggs varying substantially insize indicated.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton collapsed.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cut and a scored blank embodying ourinvention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section on a line corresponding to line99 of Fig. 6 illustrating the adaptation of certain of the transversecell members to accommodate eggs of varying sizes as indicated by fulland dotted lines.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section on a line corresponding toline 10-10 of Fig. 5, further illustrating the adjustability of certainof the transverse cell partition members.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the relationship of thecell members shown in Figs. 9 and 10 in erected position, but prior todeflection thereof as by means of the pressure of an egg thereon.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated is an egg carton, but itshould be understood that cartons embodying our invention are desirablefor packaging fragile articles other than eggs. The carton illustratedis formed Sttes Patent 0 of an integral blank of paperboard or the likewhich is cut and scored to provide a rear wall 1,. front wall 2, bottommembers 3 which are hingedly connected at 4 to the bottom edges of thefront and rear walls. The longitudinal partition members 5 are hingedlyconnected at 6 to the inner edges of the bottom members. Theselongitudinal partition members 5 are provided with legs 7 which are cutby the slits 8 from the bottom members. Top members 9 are connected byspaced hinge members 10 to the upper edges of the longitudinal partitionmembers, and the outer edges of the top members are connected to thesealing flaps 11 by hinge members 10. The longitudinal partition membershave posts 12 on their upper edges cut by U-shaped slits 13 from the topmembers. The longitudinal partition members, their leg elements 7 andpost elements 12 are disposed in side-by-side relation and adhesivelysecured together to form an integral longitudinal partition unit.

The bottom members are outwardly inclined as is illustrated in Fig. 3and are supported by the bottom edges 4 of the front and rear sidewalls, and the legs 7 in an elevated position relative to the plane ofthe bottom edges of the side walls. The sealing flaps 11 are disposed inupwardly projecting relation and adhesively secured to the side walls asis illustrated at 15 in Fig. 4. It will be noted that the rear side wall1 projects substantially above the front wall 2. The cover 16 ishingedly secured at 17 to the upper edge of the rear wall and isprovided with a closure flap 18 connected thereto by the scores 19. Theclosure flap 18 is provided with opposely facing pairs of hooked detents20 which engage the top members.

The top mmebers 9 are transversely slit and scored to provide transversepartition or cell members 21 and 22. The partition members 21 arehingedly connected to the top members by the laterally spaced hinges 26oppositely bowed slits 27 extending between these hinge members 25. Thepartition members 22 are hingedly connected to the top member by thehinge scores 28. The functional advantages of the slits 26 being curvedwill be pointed out as the description proceeds.

The transverse partition or cell members 21 are dimensioned so thattheir side edges when in erected position are in thrust supportingengagement with the longitudinal partition and the adjacent side walland the adjacent bottom, see Fig. 4. When they are erected they areapproximately vertical, subject however to being bowed substantially asis shown in Figs. 5, 6, 9, l0 and 11 to accommodate and cushioninglysupport eggs which are in thrust engagement therewith.

The slits 8 in the bottom member are of generally stepped form anddefine keepers which are disposed in oppositely facing pairs, see Fig.8. The bottom edges of the transverse partition members 21 are conformedto provide detents 24 which are swung into engagement with these keeperswhen the partition members 21 are swung to erected position, see Fig. 4.The transverse partition members 22 intermediate the partition members21 do not contact the bottom, but depend from the top member so thatthey may swing in either direction and may be deflected by an egg asindicated at Y in Fig. 5, and thrust against the eggs indicated at X andthe eggs X and Z are in bending thrust engagement with the partitionmembers 21, the curved slits 27 permitting them to bow outwardly as isillustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 9, l0 and 11. This adapts the carton to eggsof varying sizes such as normally occur even in so-called graded eggs,and at the same time the eggs are effectively cushioned. The bottommembers are provided with cushioning slits 29 disposed centrally of eachcell. The eggs are thus supported so that the carton may be quiteroughly handled without likelihood of breakage or injury to the eggs.

When the cover is in closed position it is in supported engagement withthe posts of the longitudinal partition, as is illustrated in Fig. 4,and its closure flap is interlocking and supported engagement with thetop member connected to the front wall. The legs of thelongitudinalpartition member are in supported contact with :the surfaceupon which the carton is supported.

In Figs. 5, 6, 9 and 10 we have illustrated eggs designated X, Y and Z.The cutting of the legs :from the bottom members and the posts from thetop members does not materially weaken such parts, but does .add great-1y to the strength and rigidity of the carton when erected.

The collapsed carton as illustrated in Fig. 7 may be quickly and easilyset up and when set up is very strong and rigid." It may be quiteroughly handled as well as stacked. "It is not only capable ofwithstanding substantialloads, but also of resistingside-wisecollapsing.

In the embodiment illustrated the carton is provided with acentralsevering score 23, the carton being designed to receive twelve eggs, butthe erected carton may be severed on the weakened or scored line 23.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practicalembodiment thereof. While the structure may be substantially varied indetails, we have not illustrated those variations as we believe thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt ourinvention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new-and desiredto secure by .Letters Patent is:

l. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, the height of therear wall substantially exceeding that of the front wall, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls" and upwardly inclined relative thereto, .a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said longitudinal partition members beingsubstantial duplicatesand being fixedly connected in side-by-siderelation, said longitudinal partition members having downwardlyprojecting leg elements .on their bottom edges, cut from the bottommembers, the openings in the bottom members resulting from the cuttingof said leg members therefrom being conformed to provide oppositelydisposed pairs of stepped keepers, the inner edges of the cuts beingconformed to constitute keepers, cell top members hingedly connected tothe upper edges of the longitudinal partition members and projectingoutwardly therefrom and provided with sealing flaps on their outeredges, one of which is secured to the inner side of the rear wall andthe other to the inner side of the front wall, said longi tudinalpartition members having upwardly projecting cover supporting posts ontheir upper edges cut from the top members, said longitudinal partitionmembers and said leg and top members thereof being disposed side-by-sideand unitarily connected, the upper ends of said posts being disposed inthe plane of the upper edges of the rear side wall, said top membersbeing 'slit and scored to provide a plurality of hinged transversepartitions, the side and bottom edges of spaced pairs of said transversepartition members being in edge thrust engagement with the bottom andone side wall and the longitudinal partition when in erected position,such transverse partition members being provided with hooked detentsengageable with said keepers of said bottom members, and a coverhingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall and having aclosing flap on its swinging edge supportedly engageable with the topmember connected to the front wall and provided with detents engageablewith said .top member when the cover is closed, the upper ends of saidposts being in the plane of the upper edge of the rear wall so that whenthe cover is closed it is supportedly engaged with said post, the loweredges of said leg members being in the plane of the bottom edges of saidfront and rear walls.

2. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, the height of therear wall substantially exceeding that of the front wall, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls and upwardly inclined relative thereto, a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said longitudinal partition members beingsubstantial duplicates and being fixedly connected in side-by-siderelation, said longitudinal partition members having downwardlyprojecting leg elements on their bottom edges out from the bottommembers, the openings in the bottom members resulting from the cuttingof said leg members therefrom being conformed to provide oppositelydisposed pairs of stepped keepers, the inner edges of the cuts beingconformed to constitute keepers, cell top members hingedly connected tothe upper edges of the longitudinal partition members and projectingoutwardly therefrom and provided with sealing flaps on their outeredges, one of which is secured to the inner side of the rear wall andthe other to theinner side of the front wall, said longitudinalpartition members having upwardly projecting cover supporting postsontheir upper edges cut from the top members, said longitudinal partitionmembers and said leg and top members thereof being disposed side-by-sideand unitarily connected, the upper ends of saidposts being disposed inthe plane of the upper edges of the rear side wall, said top membersbeing slit and scored to provide a plurality of hinged transversepartitions, spaced pairs of said transverse partition members beingprovided with hooked detents engageable with saidlkeepers'of said bottommembers, and a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rearwall to supportedly engage said posts when closed and having a closingflap on its swinging edge supportedly 'engageable with the topmemberconnected to the front wall and provided with detents engageablewith-said top member when the cover is closed.

3. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls and upwardly inclined relative thereto, a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said partition members being substantial duplicatesand disposed in side-by-side relation and fixedly connected and havingdownwardly projecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from thebottom members, edge portion of the cuts being conformed to constitutekeepers, cell top members hingedly connected to the upper edges of thelongitudinal partition members and projecting outwardly therefrom, theouter edge of one top member being secured to the rear wall and that ofthe other to the front wall, said longitudinal partition members havingupwardly projecting cover supporting posts on their upper edges cut fromthe top members, the upper ends of said posts being disposed in theplane of the upper edges of the rear side wall, said top members beingslit and scored to provide a plurality of hinged transverse partitionmembers, the side and bottom edges of at least two spaced transversepartition members being in edge thrust engagement with the bottomand'one side wall and the longitudinal partition when in erectedposition, suchtransverse partition members being provided with detentsengageable with said keepers of saidbottom members, and a cover hingedlyconnected to the upper edge of the rear wall to supportedly engage saidposts and having a closing flap on its swinging edge supportedlyengageable with the top member: connected to the front wall and providedwith detents engageable with said top member when the'cover is closed.

4. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls and upwardly inclined relative thereto, a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said partition members being substantial duplicatesand disposed in side-by-side relation and fixedly connected and havingdownwardly projecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from thebottom members, edge portion of the cuts being conformed to constitutekeepers, cell top members hingedly connected to the upper edges of thelongitudinal partition members and projecting outwardly therefrom, theouter edge of one top member being secured to the rear wall and that ofthe other to the front wall, said longitudinal partition members havingupwardly projecting cover supporting posts on their upper edges cut fromthe top members, said top members being slit and scored to provide aplurality of hinged transverse partition members, the side and bottomedges of at least two spaced transverse partition members being in edgethrust engagement with the bottom and one side wall and the longitudinalpartition when in erected position, such transverse partition membersbeing provided with detents engageable with said keepers of said bottommembers, and a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rearwall to supportedly engage said posts and having a closing flap on itsswinging edge supportedly engageable with the top member connected tothe front wall and provided with detents engageable with said top memberwhen the cover is closed.

5. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls and upwardly inclined relative thereto, a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said partition members being substantial duplicatesand disposed in side-by-side relation and fixedly connected and havingdownwardly projecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from thebottom members, edge portion of the cuts being conformed to constitutekeepers, cell top members hingedly connected to the upper edges of thelongitudinal partition members and projecting outwardly therefrom, theouter edge of one top member being secured to the rear wall and that ofthe other to the front wall, said longitudinal partition members havingupwardly projecting cover supporting posts on their upper edges cut fromthe top members, said top members being slit and scored to provide aplurality of hinged transverse partition members, at least two spacedtransverse partition members being provided with detents engageable withsaid keepers of said bottom members, and a cover hingedly connected tothe upper edge of the rear wall to supportedly engage said posts andhaving a closing flap on its swinging edge supportedly engageable withthe top member connected to the front wall and provided with detentsengageable With said top member when the cover is closed.

6. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls, a pair of longitudinal partition members hingedlyconnected to the inner edges of the bottom members, said partitionmembers being substantial duplicates and disposed in side-by-siderelation, said longitudinal partition members having downwardlyprojecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from the bottommembers, portions of the bottom at the edges of the cuts constitutingkeepers, the lower edges of said leg members being in the plane of thebottom edges of said front and rear walls, cell top members hingedlyconnected to the upper edges of the longitudinal partition members andprojecting outwardly therefrom and the outer edges of one top memberbeing secured to the rear wall and the other to the front wall, saidlongitudinal partition members having upwardly projecting coversupporting posts on their upper edges cut from the top members, saidlongitudinal partition members being disposed side-by-side and unitarilyconnected, the upper ends of said posts being disposed in the plane ofthe upper edge of the rear side wall, said top members being slit andscored to provide a plurality of hinged transverse partition memberscertain of which are positioned adjacent the ends of the top meta bersto swing downwardly and outwardly to erected position in edge thrustengagement with the bottom and one side wall and the longitudinalpartition when in erected position, such transverse partition membersbeing provided with detents engageable with said keepers of said bottommembers, and a cover hingedly connected to the rear Wall and having aclosing flap on its swinging edge supportedly engageable with the topmember connected to the front wall when the cover is closed in whichposition it is supportedly engaged with said posts.

7. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls, a pair of longitudinal partition members hingedlyconnected to the inner edges of the bottom members, said partitionmembers being substantial duplicates and disposed in side-by-siderelation, said longitudinal partition members having downwardlyprojecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from the bottommembers, portions of the bottom at the edges of the cuts constitutingkeepers, the lower edges of said leg members being in the plane of thebottom edges of said front and rear walls, cell top members hingedlyconnected to the upper edges of the longitudinal partition members andprojecting outwardly therefrom and the outer edges of one top memberbeing secured to the rear wall and the other to the front wall, saidlongitudinal partition members having upwardly projecting coversupporting posts on their upper edges cut from the top members, saidlongitudinal partition members being disposed side-by-side and unitarilyconnected, the upper ends of said posts being disposed in the plane ofthe upper edge of the rear side wall, said top members being slit andscored to provide a plurality of hinged transverse partition memberscertain of which are positioned adjacent the ends of the top members toswing downwardly and outwardly to erected position and being providedwith detents engageable with said keepers of said bottom members, and acover hingedly connected to the rear wall and having a closing flap onits swinging edge supportedly engageable with the top member connectedto the front wall when the cover is closed in which position it issupportedly engaged with said posts.

8. A cellular carton comprising front and rear Walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls and upwardly inclined relative thereto, a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said partition members being substantial duplicatesand disposed in side-by-side relation and fixedly connected and havingdownwardly projecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from thebottom members, edgeportion of such cuts in the bottom being conformedto constitute keepers, cell top members hingedly connected to the upperedges of the longitudinal partition members and projecting outwardlytherefrom, the outer edge of one top member being secured to the rearwall and that of the other to the front wall, said longitudinalpartition members having upwardly projecting cover supporting posts ontheir upper edges cut from the top members, said top members being slitand scored to provide spaced hinged transverse partition members whichare in edge thrust relation to the bottom, one side wall and thelongitudinal partition when in erected position and are provided withdetents engageable with said keepers of said bottom members, and a coverhingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall to supportedlyengage said posts and having a closing flap on its swinging edgesupportedly engageable with the top member connected to the front wallwhen the cover is closed.

9. A cellular carton comprising front and rear walls, bottom membershingedly connected at their outer edges to the bottom edges of the frontand rear walls and upwardly inclined relative thereto, a pair oflongitudinal partition members hingedly connected to the inner edges ofthe bottom members, said partition members being substantial duplicatesand disposed in side-by-side relation and fixedly connected and havingdownwardly projecting leg elements on their bottom edges cut from thebottom members, cell top members hingedly connected to the upper edgesof the longitudinal partition members and projecting outwardlytherefrom, the outer edge of one top member being secured to the rearwall and that of the other to the front wall, said longitudinalpartition members having upwardly projecting cover supporting posts onthe upper edges cut from the top members, said top members being slitand scored to provide spaced hinged transverse partition members whichare in edge thrust relation to the bottom, one sidewall and thelongitudinal partition when in erected position, and a cover hingedlyconnected to the upper edge of the rear wall to supportedly engage saidposts and having a closing flap on its swinging edge supportedlyengageable with the top member connected to the front wall when thecover is closed.

10. A cellular carton comprising side Walls, bottom members connected attheir outer edges to the bottom edges of the side walls and upwardlyinclined relative thereto, a pair of longitudinal partition membersconnected to the inner edges of said bottom members, said partitionmembers being substantial duplicates and disposed in side-byside fixedlyconnected relation, said longitudinal partition members vhavingdownwardly projecting leg elements on their bottom edges, cell topmembers supportedly connected to said side walls. and to saidlongitudinal partition members, said top members being slit and scoredto provide a plurality of transverse partitions, the side and bottomedges of spaced pairs of said transverse partitions being in edge thrustengagement with the adjacent bottom, side Wall and longitudinalpartition members, said spaced pairs of transverse partition membershaving bottom engaging detents, said pairs of partition members havinglaterally spaced hinge connections to the top members, there beingoppositely curved slits between said hinge connections facilitating theside bowing of said partition members when they are subjected to sidethrust, there being at least two intermediate partition membersswingable in either direction relative to said spaced pairs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,479,213 Cox Aug. 16, 1949 2,533,340 Allen Dec. 12, 1950 2,605,952Buttery Aug. 5, 1952 2,613,024 Buttery Oct. 7, 1952 2,872,096 Vines Feb.3, 1959

